Crete, Rhodes, Mykonos: Greece is rich in established holiday islands that offer fantastic holidays by the sea. A lesser-known island among them is Symi. The island is only 58 km² in size and has just over 2,500 inhabitants. It is part of the Dodecanese Islands in the Aegean Sea and captivates with its extraordinary beauty. Neoclassical buildings in bright colors nestle on the steep slopes above the azure sea. The island exudes an atmosphere of tranquility and invites visitors to stroll through winding streets rich in history. All over Symi, traditional fishing boats in the harbour bear witness to a deep-rooted maritime heritage. Here you can experience Greece from its most authentic and untouched side. What a pleasure!

The architecture and cultural beauty of Symi

Symi is known for its impressive neoclassical architecture, which is manifested in the vividly painted houses with meticulous ornamentation and woodwork. These structures climb up the steep hills in a picturesque arrangement and offer a spectacular panorama that can be admired especially from the sea. Such a scenery will be remembered for a long time and serves as a spectacular photo motif.

A closer look at the architecture in Symi town and thus the center of the island reveals the prosperity of the region in past centuries. Many of these buildings were built in the 19th century, when Symi was a stronghold of the marine and sponge diving industry. These historical roots still shape the cityscape and the cultural fabric of the island today.

Symi’s cobbled lanes and stairways are lined with charming cafes and boutiques housed in traditional buildings that celebrate the island’s rich cultural heritage. Every year, cultural events such as the Symi Festival attract visitors who want to experience classical music, dance and art in this historic setting. Here, the beauty of architecture blends seamlessly with vibrant cultural expressions that make Symi an unforgettable destination.

Exploring nature

Fancy nature? The island is characterized by a hilly landscape covered by fragrant pine forests and dense greenery. Hikers and nature lovers will get their money’s worth here, as numerous hiking trails lead through the picturesque landscapes and offer spectacular views of the Aegean Sea. A popular path leads to the Monastery of the Archangel Michael in Panormitis, which is located at the southern end of the island. This imposing monastery is a popular destination not only for its spiritual significance, but also for its picturesque location right on the water.

Other routes lead to hidden coves and secluded beaches, which are often only accessible on foot or by boat. These secluded places offer perfect conditions for a quiet day by the sea. Symi’s unspoiled nature, combined with the island’s tranquil atmosphere, makes it easy to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse yourself in a world of tranquility. It couldn’t be easier to take a deep breath and let the stress fall away.

The hidden beaches of Symi

The island of Symi may not be known for its wide sandy beaches, but its small, hidden coves offer an exclusive escape to a world of crystal clear waters and charming seclusion. These secluded beaches are often only accessible by boat or scenic hiking trails, which adds to their unspoilt nature and special atmosphere.

One of the most popular beaches is Agios Nikolaos. Greece fans know that there is a region with the same name in Crete. This beach on Symi can only be reached by boat. Swimmers and sun worshippers will find excellent conditions on site. Equally charming is Nanou Beach, famous for its turquoise waters and surrounding steep cliffs.

Marathounda in the south of the island also attracts visitors who want to experience the authentic island feeling. Here, guests enjoy fresh fish straight from the water, which is prepared in a traditional way by nimble hands in the nearby taverns.

The best travel tips for Symi

For travelers who want to visit Symi, some practical tips and information are useful to make the stay pleasant and stress-free. Symi is easily accessible by sea. There are regular ferry services from Rhodes, which operate several times a day. Since the island does not have an airport, Rhodes is the closest airport for international and domestic flights. Once on site, sturdy shoes are essential. Why? Symi is a hilly island with steep streets and paths.

The best time to visit Symi is spring or early autumn. During these months, the weather is pleasantly warm and the island is less crowded than in the peak summer months. These times offer the best balance between nice weather and a relaxed atmosphere. Let’s go to Symi!

In the middle of the beautiful Aegean Sea lies the Greek archipelago of Dodecanese – translated from Greek, Dodecanese means “twelve islands”. The largest and probably most famous island of the Dodecanese is undoubtedly Rhodes . Kos and Karpathos are also popular holiday destinations, while the majority of the approximately 160 islands have received little attention so far. Completely unjustified, because there are real treasures among the 25 or so inhabited islands.

Patmos – a divine revelation

For pilgrims and believers, Patmos is probably the most important island of the Dodecanese, after all, the last book of the New Testament was revealed to John during his stay in 95 BC. In addition to the pilgrims who visit the St. John’s Monastery of the Greek Orthodox Church, Patmos is especially popular with younger holidaymakers. Around the harbour of Skala there is pleasant liveliness throughout the day and in the picturesque alleys you can stroll in a heavenly relaxed way. Above the harbour is the old town of Chora, which can be reached via one of the numerous paths lined with whitewashed houses. Especially in the evening, a visit to the small taverns is worthwhile, because the Greek delicacies are accompanied by authentic hospitality and typical music. If you want to dive into the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea, Patmos is sure to be an idyllic bay where you can relax.

Symi – the picture-book island

In the southern Aegean Sea lies Symi, a truly enchanting little island. It is considered the pearl of the Dodecanese, which is not only due to its unique buildings. When you arrive at the port of Gialos, you think you are in the middle of a film set, so wonderfully do the colourful and often quite magnificent houses nestle along the promenade and up the hills. Numerous steps allow you to discover unique corners of the small town, which is truly not stingy with fantastic photo motifs. While in the afternoon hours there is a turbulent hustle and bustle due to the day trippers of Rhodes, in the evening hours you can enjoy the almost magical atmosphere. At the southwestern end of Symi, in a small bay with its own pier, lies the Parnormitis Monastery, an Orthodox pilgrimage site with a monastery complex that is well worth seeing, whose origins date back to the 9th century. The quaint fishing village of Pedi with its beautiful bay is also worth a visit.

Karpathos – an island with a dream beach guarantee

Another pearl of the Aegean is Karpathos, the second largest island of the Dodecanese. While the island’s capital Pigadia now seems almost modern, its small alleys still hide many rustic treasures and traditional taverns. South of Pigadia, in the villages of Amopi and Lakki, beats the tourist heart of Karpathos. In the given case, however, this only means that they have a good range of hotels and holiday apartments.

You won’t find mass tourism on Karpathos, so you can enjoy the beautiful bays and idyllic sandy beaches, of which there are far more than two dozen throughout the island, in pleasant privacy. Not far from Amopi lies the charismatic mountain village of Menetes, whose colourful house facades gleam happily from under the stone massifs. No less good mood is a detour to one of the many taverns, where excellent regional dishes are served. Fish lovers should also not miss a visit to Finiki, a tiny fishing village on the west coast of Karpathos, where you can feast and swim. Things get sportier in the south of the island, at Vatha Beach, a true surfing Eldorado, or on Kali Limni, the highest mountain on the island at 1,251 meters, which rewards the halfway demanding ascent with a sensational view.

Nisyros – the mysterious beauty

Even the arrival by ferry in the port of Mandraki gives an idea that this small island of the Dodecanese is of very special beauty. Whitewashed houses with the typical blue shutters and doors as far as the eye can see delight the heart. In the middle of the village square stands a gigantic rubber tree, under whose mighty crown the surrounding taverns and restaurants spoil their guests with typical local specialties. Behind Pali, a fishing village well worth seeing, lie the hot springs of Nysros, whose healing effects once spread throughout Europe. Not far from the old thermal bathhouse is the Panaghia Thermiani, which is well worth seeing, built in the remains of an ancient Roman bath. If you are looking for a very special place to swim – be it in the crystal clear sea or under the bright sun – you will find it in Pachia Ammos. A little hidden behind the rugged cliffs is the Lies beach in a spacious bay, which is considered the most beautiful on the island with its mocha-coloured sand. Pleasant peace and quiet can be enjoyed in the once abandoned village of Emporio, whether strolling through the historic streets or enjoying the stimulating volcanic fumes of the natural sauna. Slowed down in this way, the senses can be wonderfully reawakened at the evening meeting on the village square with live music and Greek wine.

Patmos is a relatively small island with a maximum length of 25 km and is located in the eastern Aegean Sea. Politically, it belongs to the Dodecanese archipelago, but is the northernmost island of this chain and thus geographically belongs to the southern Sporades.

General information about Patmos

Patmos has only about 3,050 inhabitants and has no airport. However, since it is considered the “Holy Island” in Greece and is the destination of many Orthodox pilgrims, Patmos benefits from very good ship connections. If you don’t want to travel via Athens, it is best to fly to Kos or Samos and then take one of the regular ferries.

The main town of Chora developed over time around the main attraction of the island, the Monastery of St. John. It is said that the evangelist John wrote down the last book of the New Testament, the “Revelation”, here. Chora impresses with small romantic streets with many arcades and archways, which are usually more characteristic of the Cyclades . The magnificent old mansions in Gothic and neoclassical architecture bear witness to the fact that part of the population had already become wealthy through trade in the Middle Ages.

Patmos is about 34 km² in size and relatively flat. The highest elevation is the 269 m high Prophit Elias Berg and in the early and late season many nature lovers come here for hiking. A wonderful walk is, for example, the 2.4 km long Aporthiano path, which leads from Chora down to the port in Skala. This is where the lively promenade with cafés, taverns and bars runs, where the island’s nightlife takes place, because in the immediate vicinity of the monastery peace and quiet returns earlier in the evening out of respect. However, turning night into day is not common here and party tourists should rather choose other destinations for their vacation. In general, the island can be wonderfully “hiked”, because for centuries a network of paths has connected the individual villages and monasteries with each other.

The most beautiful beaches in Patmos

Beach vacationers enjoy a lot of variety on Patmos, but sandy beaches can only be found on the south and east coasts. For most tourists, the dreamlike, Caribbean-like , natural beach Psili Ammos is the absolute paradise. Since there is no road leading to the sea at this point, it can only be reached after a 30-minute walk or by boat. Lampis Bay on the north coast offers an extraordinary underground that can only be found on this island. Small colourful pebbles, which holidaymakers like to take home as souvenirs, cover the entire shore here. On almost all stretches of the coast, rustic taverns serve delicious Greek specialties, so that no one has to go hungry during a long day of swimming.

The most beautiful sights on Patmos

Patmos is nicknamed the “Holy Island” because the Monastery of St. John is one of the most important religious pilgrimage sites of the Greek Orthodox Church. It was built in the 11th century on the remains of an ancient Aphrodite temple and decisively shapes the image of Chora with its imposing walls and fortress-like character. The monastery and its important library are on the UNESCO World Heritage List due to their uniqueness. It is here that the evangelist John is said to have written the Book of the Apocalypse after receiving the promises of Jesus in a cave. This grotto is located on the path between Skala and Chora and is now a combination of chapel and cave. It is also one of the most important sights on the island and is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Another attraction on Patmos is the huge Kallikatsou Rock, which is said to exude a very special energy. Its shape is reminiscent of a statue or even a stone temple. If you want, you can climb to the top and enjoy a fantastic view of the sea from there. The Kallikatsou is located near Grikos, one of the larger island villages, which is at the top of the list of tourists because of its traditional atmosphere with the beautiful platia, the taverns and the beautiful beach.

In addition to the Monastery of St. John, it is also worth visiting the Panagia Monastery on Patmos, which is famous for its “Holy Seats”, the Kathismata. These are small monks’ hermitages in the rock, where many people feel the spirituality for which the island is famous.

In picturesque Chora, two old mansions have been converted into museums and now offer a good insight into life in earlier times in this part of the Aegean. The Nikolaidis House dates back to the 18th century and is an interesting example of the typical interior decoration of the time, while the “Simandiri” showcases household items and tools from the Middle Ages.

Gastronomic specialties

Many taverns on Patmos offer simple, tasty dishes. Since many Greeks spend their holidays on Patmos and the island also receives countless pilgrims, good, homemade food can be enjoyed here. A typical speciality that can be found all over the country, but which is particularly delicious here, are tiropites (cheese pies). Of course, the menus often include fresh grilled fish with salad and various seafood. There is a small winery near Grikos and so a local wine is definitely recommended to go with your meal.

Every Patmos vacationer should try an ouzo with the delicious small appetizers (mezedakia) at least once at sunset and simply enjoy the atmosphere.

How to get to Patmos?

1. Plane and ferry: As mentioned earlier, Patmos doesn’t have its own airport, so most visitors first fly to a nearby larger airport such as the one on the island of Kos, Samos, or Rhodes. From there, you can take a ferry to Patmos. These ferries run regularly, especially during the peak tourist season.
2. Direct ferry from Athens: There are also direct ferries and speedboats from Piraeus, the main seaport of Athens, to Patmos. The trip takes between 7 and 10 hours, depending on the type of ship.
3. Ferry from other islands: Patmos is well connected to other islands in the Dodecanese group as well as parts of the Aegean Sea. Regular ferry services exist from islands such as Leros, Kalymnos and others.
4. Private boat or yacht: If you have the opportunity, you can also travel to Patmos by private boat or yacht. Many visitors who explore the Aegean Sea in the summer choose this option for a more flexible schedule and the opportunity to explore the surrounding islands.